Advanced ID (RFID Technology) (fka AIDO)

[tommer]

Expert Advises Businesses to View ABC Movie as Preview of Bird Flu Pandemic

MARLTON, N.J., May 8 (AScribe Newswire) -- Although an upcoming ABC movie on the bird flu virus is a Hollywood tale, a real outbreak may not be far removed from the reel version airing May 9, notes one readiness expert.

"Viruses mutate and if this one does it will join the human flu virus, change its genetic code and emerge as a new and deadly flu that can spread through the air from human to human. If the virus does mutate, it does not necessarily mean it will be as deadly to people as it is to birds. But private citizens, the government, businesses, schools and hospitals must prepare for the worst," says Stephen Guarino, CEO of Global Protection in Marlton, N.J.

The avian influenza virus currently is confined to birds. It can, however, be transmitted to humans, but only if people come into direct contact with the droppings and excretions of infected birds. If there is an outbreak of bird flu among the U.S. population, some scientists predict a worst-case scenario of 20 million Americans affected, two million dead, and schools and businesses shut down to prevent the spread of the disease.

"Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America," which will air on ABC Tuesday, May 9, tells the story of an avian flu outbreak in the United States, the people affected by it and those trying to stop it.

Guarino believes that employers and consumers should heed the warnings and prepare their businesses and homes should the avian flu switch from posing a terrible hazard to birds to becoming a real threat to humans.

"If H5N1 virus were to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, a worldwide outbreak of disease could begin. No one can predict when a pandemic might occur. However, experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia and Europe very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily from person to person," says Guarino.

"Get ready now in the event of an outbreak. Many employees might opt to stay at home and the ones who do go to work will need the appropriate protection to minimize their risk of exposure to the disease."

Some corporations, he reports, are considering budgets of $50 million to $200 million for gear and equipment to protect their employees.

"Many companies are ensuring that they have large quantities of respirators, disinfectants, rubber gloves and similar products readily available in large quantities and others are preparing work-at-home plans," says Guarino. "Families should have some personal protection equipment on hand too."

Guarino, whose company sells protective kits to industry and consumers at www.birdflu123.com, advises families to look for respirators that meet Centers for Disease Control and Protection guidelines for tuberculosis exposure control and are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

ABOUT GLOBAL PROTECTION

Global Protection offers first responder protective gear that includes protective suits, gas masks and a variety of equipment used for protection against chemical, biological and nuclear threats. U.S. government agencies, police and fire first responders, companies and individuals rely on Global Protection to provide the leading products to protect against potential chemical warfare agents, biological warfare, and terrorist threats such as anthrax, smallpox, and nerve gas.

http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20060507.044830&time=08